A.J.

If Zamperla themselves bought the Flying Coaster from Elitch Gardens, then they have to have plans to improve it somehow...

I'm pretty sure the acceleration and deceleration rates are about the same, so it wouldn't make much of a difference. Also, S-EFK will most likely be equipped with the same kind of vehicles that TOT-II is equipped with over at Dreamworld.

Yes, that's the one, and I figured out how to make it work. Thanks! But...I'm having another dilemma. I'm trying to recreate the Crystal Beach Cyclone's first inclined spiral (the one that's coincentric with the first turnaround) using Newton2, but I can't quite get it right. The best result I have had was: Using curved geometry to create a crest that levels off at 0 degree pitch at the hill's top Using curved geometry with 180 degree angle and -45 degree direction, with roll at the bottom to eliminate lateral Gs However, it creates a painful spike in lateral Gs at the very beginning of the section. The rest is okay. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I should go about this? I could be completely wrong about how to make it - I haven't used Newton2 for more than a few weeks.

At least most of the awesome rides that get built in the park will get sold to better owners once the park fails.

^ Not hating, just trying to cool the hate.

On the subject of Riddler's Revenge & Green Lantern being the same color... Why don't they repaint Riddler Green and Purple? Doesn't the Riddler have a green suit with a purple mask?

I had completely forgot about Chiller.

On the subject of lap bars - doesn't Intamin refer to their shoulder restraints as overhead lap bars? I just can't comprehend taking a zero-g roll with just a lap bar (keeping in mind that Blue Fire and the X-car coasters have their restraint at the hip).

Insane-looking ride. Is Worlds of Discovery short on good naming ideas? I remember that the name "Cheetaka" swirled around - IMO a better name and more fitting to the others such as Kumba, Montu, and Skeikra.

It actually makes me wonder - Would an indoor park of a similar concept (physical games and obstacle courses) be successful in the United States? The concept, not exactly the execution.

This is disappointing. I actually like the idea of a fitness-based amusement park - sort of like a gym, but more fun!

No Limits is a real coaster simulator. Just because they let mere mortals buy a copy doesn't make it any less real. It has been used as the basis for animations of rides by Holiday World, Indiana Beach, Cedar Point, Gravity Group, Gerstlauer, Vekoma, Six Flags, and several others I could probably think of after I've had some coffee. And...those developers and engineers have access to a better copy of NoLimits which can be used to simulate their own trains (such as Gerstlauer and their original launch coaster layout). The creation presented in the preview was most likely a marketing job than an engineering job though. It's really poorly made.

For a roller coaster I've never ridden before, I always go for the front seat, even if it means waiting.

Zamperla must've thought that the trains would make it over the launch no matter what. Usually I'm a fan of rollbacks. Hopefully everyone is okay.

I personally think the reach shields look almost un-noticable. Wait a second - is that stadium seating I see? That will be really cool. It will give more airtime over the hills, too, because of the taller heartline in the back.

The only reason why I'm so apprehensive about Moser building the tower is that they'll plaster their logo all over it...yuck.

Bahahahaha. "Now, I buys rollers coaster with ze moneys I save with DirecTV and puts it in backyard."

^^ Heh, talk about inaccuracy of concept art. Normal Eurofighter trains. BUT...only two people per row. WITH...no shoulder restraints. I'm confused.

The drifting coaster is a pipe dream. So is the splitting coaster. Imagine what would really happen if the coaster drifted over to one side in a high speed turn and went WHACK. That would be painful. The track's probably dark to blend in with the terrain.

Both sides do race - there's the little clip at the very end that shows two sets of cars dueling. As for the speed, a lot of those turns are pretty flat, so higher speeds would kick the laterals up to the point of painful...

Hey! I applied for the program too! I have my phone interview on Tuesday. Since I'm a freshman, I have no experience with the program...but the juniors and seniors at Penn State that have done the program say that it's awesome experience!

Did anyone else notice that the track in the offride shots was Vekoma Flyer track with B&M 3DS? It looks like a good ride. As much of an engineer I am, I still can't for the life of me figure out why flyers can't have inverted vertical loops.

Seat dividers are good when you've got laterals - the dividers on the Millennium Flyers are cushy too! But, seat dividers only should be paired with individual lap restraints. Buzzbars plus airtime plus seat divider = uncomfortable-looking on-ride photo.

They could've done a quick nip/tuck of the restraint design between 2005 (G-force) and 2006 (Abismo) if enough people had complained about G-force being uncomfortable. Intamin used its older launch coaster trains and newer ones in the same year - Desert Race and Maverick respectively - even though Maverick's trains were heavily themed. Kind of the same situation, kind of not...

The Maurer Skyloop (the original X-car) coasters are designed for parks who want a towering thrill ride on a budget and in not a lot of space (200ft x 50ft). All of them are approximately 150 feet tall. They go through the entire circuit once, then valley once, and then they're brought back to the station. The only Skyloop coaster that doesn't follow this trend is Abismo at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, which has a larger layout. The Skyloops have gotten pretty popular as of late - Knight Valley (China) is getting one for this year, and Linnanmaki and World Joyland (China) are each getting one next year - all of which are identical to Sky Wheel and X-Coaster at Magic Springs.